Abstract: A process for preparing a pipelineable oil from a heavy crude oil by thermally treating the oil in the absence of added hydrogen, and under sufficiently severe conditions to induce the formation of an upgraded, low viscosity oil phase and a liquid asphalt phase that contains dispersed coke. The reaction is conducted under pressure sufficient to retain in the reactor most of the normally liquid hydrocarbons, under which conditions the two phases are readily separated and recovered solely by gravity settling. The process is readily adapted to oil field use with skid mounted units. The severity is adjusted to provide sufficient asphalt which, when burned, furnishes the steam required for production of the heavy crude oil.

Abstract: Disclosed is a catalyst and process for making same wherein sepiolite is ion exchanged with a Group Ib, IIb, IIb, IVb, Vb, or VIIa metal, impregnated with a VIa metal and exchanged with a magnesium salt with intervening processing steps of calcining. The catalyst composition is useful in removing metals and hydroprocessing of hydrocarbon feedstocks. The catalyst can also be mixed with a high silica/alumina ratio zeolite such as sodium ZSM-5 zeolite.

Abstract: Visbreaking of heavy metals containing oil with 5 to 30, preferably 15 to 25 wt % pulverized coal gives good demetallation of oil and produces a solids product with a high metals content suitable for use as a synthetic, metal bearing ore.

Abstract: A method is described for preparing a solid fuel in the form of a coal/liquid slurry for use in small furnaces. The fuel has a relatively uniform heating value of 10,000 to 14,000 Btu per pound and is prepared by crushing and grinding coal to less than 200 mesh, blending the coal fines with additives for SO.sub.x abatement, for ignition and oxidation promotion, and ash modifiers to improve the combustion quality of the fuel. The blended coal mixture is wetted with water and then slurried with oil, water or alcohol to form a thick slurry. The thick slurry is stabilized by proper selective of surfactants, polymers and other additives by way of interparticle bonding or bridging to provide a pumpable solid fuel that is stable in storage.

Abstract: Synthesis gas is catalytically converted to a feedstock comprising durene and gasoline. Durene is recovered from the feedstock by cooling it to a point where crystallization occurs and separating the crystallized durene. The durene subsequently is washed with a wash fluid. The wash fluid which can be methanol, is returned to a process wherein it is converted to gasoline and durene. The separated mother liquor is added to the gasoline fraction.

Abstract: Durene is recovered from a mixture rich in durene and containing hydrocarbons boiling in the gasoline range by cooling the mixture to a point where crystallization occurs and separating the crystallized durene. The durene subsequently is washed with a wash fluid. The wash fluid which can be methanol, is returned to a process wherein it is converted to gasoline and durene. The separated mother liquor is added to the gasoline fraction. The original mixture of durene and gasoline is obtained by the catalytic conversion of alcohols and ethers.

Abstract: Durene is recovered from a mixture rich in durene and containing hydrocarbons boiling in the gasoline range by cooling the mixture to a point where crystallization occurs and separating the crystallized durene. The durene subsequently is washed with a wash fluid. The wash fluid which can be methanol, is returned to a process wherein it is converted to gasoline and durene. The separated mother liquor is added to the gasoline fraction. The original mixture is obtained by the catalytic conversion of synthesis gas and methanol or by other means.

Abstract: An apparatus for recovering uranium and/or related values which include means for protecting ion-exchange resins in the recovery operation from oxidative degradation due to contact with hydrogen peroxide. A guard chamber is positioned in the elution circuit so that barren eluant, after it is stripped of its uranium and/or related values by treatment with hydrogen peroxide, will flow through the chamber. The guard chamber contains catalytic material, e.g. activated carbon, which decomposes hydrogen peroxide upon contact into water and oxygen. The barren eluant, after it passes through the catalytic material, is used to make up fresh eluant for reuse in the recovery method without the risk of the fresh eluant causing oxidative degradation of the resins.

Abstract: A method for reducing the pour point of a hydrocarbon oil which comprises contacting said oil under dewaxing conditions with a zeolite dewaxing catalyst thereby forming a dewaxed oil that contains olefins, and contacting said dewaxed oil and said contained olefins with a solid acidic catalyst under conditions effective to increase the stability of said oil.

Abstract: The ammonium ions in a subterranean clay-containing formation may be removed by flushing the formation with a calcium ion containing restoration fluid having substantially the highest pH effective to prevent precipitation of calcium hydroxide from said restoration fluid. The calcium ion concentration in the restoration fluid is maintained between about 10,000 and 100,000 ppm until the ammonia concentration in the produced fluid peaks or is less than about 100 ppm. Thereafter the calcium ion concentration is maintained at about 400 to about 600 ppm until the desired level of ammonia is obtained, usually about 1-3 ppm.

Abstract: Disclosed is a catalyst and process for making same wherein sepiolite is ion exchanged with a Group Ib, IIb, IIIb, IVb, Vb, or VIIa metal, impregnated with VIa metal and exchanged with a magnesium salt with intervening processing steps of calcining. The catalyst composition is useful in removing metals and hydroprocessing of hydrocarbon feedstocks. The catalyst can also be mixed with a high silica/alumina ratio zeolite such as sodium ZSM-5 zeolite.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for recovery of uranium from a carbonate lixiviant additionally containing other contaminants such as molybdenum and silica, by adjusting the pH of the lixiviant to a value of at least 4 and treating the lixiviant to obtain a carbonate concentration of at least 50 ppm by weight. Subsequently the lixiviant is treated with an aqueous solution containing a sufficient amount of ferric iron to precipitate the contaminants without substantial precipitation with the uranium values. The precipitate is separated from the lixiviant. The treated lixiviant is passed through an ion exchange to retain uranium values.

Abstract: A process for the direct regeneration of acid resin using a nonaqueous eluant saturated with anhydrous acid.

Abstract: A process is described for improving yields and leaching rates of mineral values in highly reducing uranium-bearing formations, while minimizing deleterious environmental impact, by injecting an oxidant such as gaseous air or O.sub.2 into the formation prior to leaching. The preoxidation may be enhanced by the presence of CO.sub.2 gas in the pre-leaching oxidant. The process is particularly suitable for systems employing a CO.sub.2 /O.sub.2 lixiviant. The presence of sulfate ion further improves the leaching rate of such a system.

Abstract: A dewaxing process for reducing the pour point of waxy oils in which the oil is cooled by direct contact with a liquid autorefrigerant such as propane. The wax which separates upon cooling is removed by flotation assisted by the bubbles of vaporized autorefrigerant which rise through the oil to form a frothy slurry of wax which can be decanted and the wax recovered from it. A dewaxing solvent such as methyl ethyl ketone may be used to assist separation of the wax.

Abstract: The quality of catalytically hydrodewaxed oils is improved by hydroisomerizing the oil to remove residual waxy components which contribute to poor performance in the Overnight Cloud Point test. Conversion during the hydroisomerization is minimized so as to obtain a product of high clarity in good yield.

Abstract: A process as disclosed for recovering uranium values from a carbonate leach solution which comprises directly eluting a column of resin onto which uranium has been sorbed by flowing a concentrated acidic eluant through the column without preconditioning and/or post-conditioning the resin. The concentrated acidic eluant may be flowed upward or, preferably, downward through the column.

Abstract: A process is described for minimizing accumulation of undesirable polythionates on an ion exchange resin used to recover uranium values from a leachate from an in situ mining operation by adding sulfite, either as a sulfite salt or as SO.sub.2, directly to the leachate or to the eluant.

Abstract: The liquid yield of a delayed coking process is improved by controlling the temperature of the vapor space above the carbonizing mass so that that incipient coking and cracking of the vapors is reduced. The temperature is preferably controlled by introducing a quenching liquid into the vapor space; suitable liquids for this purpose include water, coker feedstock and the bottoms fraction derived from the coker products.

Abstract: A coal liquefaction process comprises a liquefaction stage and an extraction stage. In the liquefaction stage the comminuted coal is liquefied with a process-derived solvent under elevated temperature and pressure conditions. In the extraction stage the liquefied coal is extracted with an extraction solvent, which can be derived from the process or initially supplied from external sources, comprising aromatic hydrocarbons having boiling point of up to 400.degree. F., to extract valuable hydrocarbon products from the liquefied coal and to separate the extract phase from ash and undissolved coal under elevated temperature and pressure conditions. The extraction is conducted at supercritical temperature and pressure conditions for the extraction solvent. The temperature and pressure of the extract phase is then decreased, thereby decreasing the dissolution power of the solvent and separating the extract phase into a deashed fraction and a liquid fraction.